A public memorial service for conservative political commentator Charlie Kirk will take place in Arizona next weekend, following Kirk’s shooting death on Wednesday, September 10.
His political organization Turning Point USA announced on Saturday, September 13, that the memorial — called “Building a Legacy, Remembering Charlie Kirk” — will be held on Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. The venue is the home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals and can hold as many as 73,000 people.
According to Fox News, President Donald Trump plans to attend the service. Doors will open for the memorial at 8 a.m. PT and the service will start at 11 a.m PT, with fans able to register online for tickets on a first come, first serve basis.
“His legacy will endure for generations,” Turning Point USA said in a statement. “And now he hears the words of Matthew 25:23 from his Lord and Savior: ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’”
Kirk was shot during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah on Wednesday and later died at age 31 at a local hospital. The FBI announced on Friday, September 12, that 22-year-old shooting suspect Tyler Robinson was in custody after a multi-day search.
The violent incident transpired during a stop on Kirk’s American Comeback Tour, where he was scheduled to speak under a banner that read “Prove Me Wrong.” According to preliminary reports, the shooting occurred from approximately 200 yards away at around 1:20 p.m. local time.
Two men were initially taken into custody for questioning in the hours after Kirk’s death, though they were eventually cleared as suspects. (One of those original persons of interest, George Zinn, was booked on suspicion of obstruction of justice.)
Once suspected shooter Robinson was apprehended, CNN reported that he was native of Washington, Utah, who’d dropped out of Utah State University despite earning a scholarship. While Robinson was registered to vote, he was listed as an “inactive” voter and not affiliated with any political party.
In the wake of the shooting, the activist’s wife, Erika Kirk, broke her silence on Friday with a speech streamed by Turning Point USA, in which she said her spouse was “such a good man” and a “perfect father.” (The couple share two children: one son and one daughter.)
“Charlie loved his children and he loved me with all of his heart and I knew that everyday. He made sure I knew that everyday,” Erika, 36, said. “Everyday he would ask me, ‘How can I serve you better? How can I be a better husband? How can I be a better father?’ … He was a such a good man. He still is such a good man. He was the perfect father. He was the perfect husband.”
In one particularly emotional moment, Erika explained how she broke the news to her and Charlie’s two children about their father’s death.
“When I got home last night Gigi, our daughter, just ran into my arms and I talked to her and she said, ‘Mommy i miss you’ and I said I miss you too baby and she goes, ‘Where’s daddy?’ How do you tell a 3 year old? She’s 3,” Erika said. “And I said, ‘Daddy loves you so much baby he’s on a work trip with Jesus so he can afford your blueberry budget.”
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